Net satellite hits 1.2Gbit/s

Engineers testing a recently launched Japanese data communications satellite have succeeded in establishing a two-way internet link running at 1.2Gbit/s each way.

The speed represents a record for satellite communications, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology.

The tests were carried out on May 2 as part of verification of the Kizuna satellite. In the tests, data was transmitted on two 622Mbit/s channels both up to the satellite and down to a receiving antenna. Together the combined data transmission speed was 1.2Gbit/s.

Kizuna was launched in February. One of its special features is an on-board Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) switch.

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